62 YEARS IN SHIPPING

Ravi Inder Singh Nijjer,

For Ravi Inder Singh Nijjer, a 62year career in shipping continues to steam ahead to this day.

Starting as a Merchant Navy official in India in 1960, he has now been felicitated with Australia’s AM honour as an international expert on maritime safety.

“It’s been quite an improbable life for a boy who grew up in landlocked Jullundur,” Mr Nijjer laughed. “In fact, that’s the name of my soon-to-be published book: An Improbable Life.”

The Bishop Cotton School educated Nijjer took to shipping because he “wanted to get away from Punjab and experience the world.” entrepreneurs, especially through its Indian diaspora,” she stated.

He did, and then chose to call Australia home.

He was serving in Hong Kong in 1968 when he met his Australian wife. They moved to Australia in 1970 and he continued to serve on the seas until 1980.

Dr. Kanga’s own company iOmniscient Pty Ltd is already working with partners in India to implement advanced Artificial Intelligence for video technologies.

So, what is her mantra for success?

“Unfortunately, there is no fast track or escalator to the top. Many new arrivals from India will, no doubt, find it difficult to settle in, find jobs and homes. It was not easy for me either, especially as a woman engineer; this was a rarity when I first arrived in Australia. It’s important to recognise that Australia offers a lot of opportunities. Ensuring specific career goals and keeping them in mind, while seizing every opportunity, is important to get ahead and succeed,” she advises.

Looking back on her stellar career, Dr. Kanga remembers vividly how rare female engineers were.

“In fact, I was only the second female engineer employed by Esso Australia. Since then, the role of women and the recognition of their contribution has improved significantly in both countries. This is necessary for sustainable economic development. We simply cannot address the important issues of today if we leave out the contributions of half the brainpower of the country,” she reiterated. Delving back to where it all began for her, she recounted a particularly funny anecdote. “Armed with not one but two engineering degrees, both from world leading universities, I approached a local job centre and explained I had an MSc. The official replied, 'But have you done your HSC?' This was the start of my brilliant career in Australia!”

For Kanga though, there is still plenty of ground to cover.

“The recognition I have received will, I hope, open more doors and give me the voice that is needed to advance many issues. I am still climbing the mountain. There is a great deal to be done. However, the view from where I have reached is empowering and inspiring. And on my climb, I must acknowledge that it is a shared achievement and thank my husband and sons for their love, patience and support and for the many colleagues who have journeyed with me and provided their invaluable insights and advice along the way,” she concluded.

Usha Ramanujam Arvind

Nijjer then moved to education, becoming lecturer then head at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Transport’s Department of Marine Transport.

In his role there, he rewrote the Masterclass I syllabus.

“I was enticed out of education and back into the centre of it all, when the shipping industry saw seven major accidents on Australian ships,” Nijjer recounted. “It was then that I began working on improving safety management systems.”

As part of his new role, he was sent to Japan to study their marine transport security. The report he wrote following that raised his profile considerably.

He would go on, in years to follow, to contribute significantly in the first use of GPS for maritime navigation, in Australian Marine Pilot Training, in Port Operations Safety Management Systems, and in Bridge Resource Management Training Systems.

He has been involved as consultant since the mid-1990s to the Australian shipping industry, and since 2004, internationally.

“I have travelled the world speaking at professional conferences and to students, and particularly enjoy these assignments in India.”

He continues to work full-time to this day.

It is no understatement to say that Nijjer